r six or eight
years, using a common cultivator, and cease cropping at the end of this
time; plant the bearing orchard to clover. Windbreaks would be
beneficial; would make them of forest-trees or Osage orange, by planting
in three close rows on the south and west sides of the orchard. For
rabbits I tie split corn-stalks around the trees. I prune very little;
just enough to keep the head open and the watersprouts off. I do not
thin the fruit while on the trees. My trees are planted with one variety
in a row. I do not fertilize my orchard. I do not pasture my orchard; it
is not advisable. My trees are troubled with canker-worms and flathead
borers, and my apples with codling-moth. I do not spray. I pick my
apples by hand. I sell apples in the orchard; also wholesale, retail and
peddle some. The home market is best; never tried distant markets. I do
not dry or store any. I do not irrigate. Apples were fifty cents per
bushel in the fall of 1897. I paid my help one dollar per day.

* * * * *

REUBEN WALTON, Aurora, Cloud county: I have lived in Kansas twenty
years. Have an apple orchard of 200 trees from six to eighteen years
old. For a commercial orchard I prefer Ben Davis, Late Emperor, and
Maiden's Blush; and for a family orchard Winesap, Cooper's Early White,
Late Emperor, Maiden's Blush, and Rhode Island Greening. I prefer a
north slope with a rich black loam and limestone subsoil. I prefer
two-year-old, well-rooted trees, set twenty feet apart. I cultivate my
orchard to potatoes for ten years, using a double shovel plow, and cease
cropping at the end of this time, planting the bearing orchard to grass.
Windbreaks are essential; would make them of evergreens. I dig borers
out. I prune to give the trees more air and better shape; I think it
pays. I do not thin the fruit while on the trees; the hail and dry
weather generally do that for me. My trees are in mixed plantings. I
have one apricot tree which never bore until a swarm of bees came and
lit on it, and it has borne every year since then [??]. I do not
fertilize my orchard; our soil does not need it. I pasture my orchard
all the time, with hogs and pigs. It is not advisable, as they injure
the trees, but they pick up the wormy fruit. My trees are troubled with
canker-worms, and my apples with codling-moth. I spray with London
purple and Paris green three times, when we have the time and water to
spare. Think I have reduced the codling